Posted by @Chris_Lewis · 1h ago
If you want fry to survive, the main tank is usually the worst place for them — they get eaten or outcompeted at feeding time. A simple dedicated grow-out tank changes the odds completely.
Keep it bare and simple. A bare-bottom tank is easiest to keep clean (you will feed heavily and uneaten food fouls fast). Add a gentle, fry-safe filter — a sponge filter is the classic choice because it will not suck up babies and it grows a film of microorganisms they can graze.
Stability over decor. Match temperature and chemistry to where the fry came from, keep it cycled, and do frequent small water changes — fry are far more sensitive to ammonia than adults.
Feeding is make-or-break. Tiny fry need tiny food: infusoria or liquid fry food for the smallest, baby brine shrimp as they grow, then crushed flake. Feed small amounts several times a day and siphon leftovers.
Grading. As they grow, bigger fry will eat smaller siblings — sorting by size into separate containers boosts survival.
Your turn: what species are you raising, and where are you — eggs, free-swimming fry, or grow-out? Post your setup and feeding schedule and we will help you tune it.